Society – Cryospheric Reservoirs – Society

Abstract:

Human activities cause climate warming which melts ice. As a result, mountain cryospheric reservoirs diminish their storage capacity with detrimental effects on (seasonal) water availability. Changes in snow and ice related water availability are detected and projections are alarming, although their magnitude depends on present and near future greenhouse gas emissions and the magnitude of the effects on the regional climate and hydrological characteristics. Besides analyzing the diverse pattern of changes in cryospheric reservoirs (main emphasis on glaciers) and related water availability, light will be put on the attribution of the observed changes to anthropogenic and other drivers.